Worcester County Sheriff's Office - Identity Theft

Greetings Citizens of Worcester County;

This is the best method I have found for you to combat Identity Theft. Take a few minutes and get the free report so that “you” can insure your identity has not been stolen. This is undoubtedly the best protection against becoming a victim; that is to keep your Credit Report up to date and insure it is accurate.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide credit reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and Trans-Union — to provide you with a FREE copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s credit reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to credit reporting companies.

 A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued or have filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide credit reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

 Here are the details about your rights under the FCRA, which established the free annual credit report program.
 
Q: How do I order my free report?
 The three nationwide credit reporting companies have set up a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report.

 To order, visit annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228. Or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. Do not contact the three nationwide credit reporting companies individually. They are providing free annual credit reports only through annualcreditreport.com, 1-877-322-8228 or mailing to Annual Credit Report Request Service.

 You may order your reports from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies at the same time, or you can order your report from each of the companies one at a time. The law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the nationwide credit reporting companies every 12 months. And if you have attended my seminar, you will recall that I suggest you use the service once every four months, to maintain a constant vigilance on your credit and Identity Theft prevention. For example, January 2014 use Experian, May 2014 use Equifax and then September use Trans-Union and repeat it afterwards. 

 **Also, please mark your calendar for the Identity Theft Prevention seminar, a very informal fun presentation; that will be show cased at the Knights of Columbus Lodge facility at 100th Street in Ocean City on February 13, 2014 at 10 a.m. Presented by Taylor Bank, Bank of Ocean City and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. I hope that you can attend. **

Report all suspicious activity and show you care by watching out for your neighbor.

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